After release by EFCC, DSS picks Miyetti Allah’s leader Bodejo

DSS rearrests Miyetti Allah leader, Bodejo after EFCC release

Operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, have reportedly rearrested the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, shortly after he was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following the reported fulfilment of his bail conditions.

Bello Bodejo

Bodejo was allegedly taken into custody by DSS operatives on Friday as he left the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where his lawyers had gone to facilitate his release.

The development has reportedly left his family questioning the circumstances surrounding his fresh detention, particularly after a Federal High Court granted him bail and the conditions were said to have been met.

His wife, Hajiya Hauwa Bodejo, expressed concern over the development, saying she could not understand why her husband was taken away again after the bail requirements had been fulfilled.

According to Hauwa, DSS personnel had been positioned around the EFCC premises for several hours before Bodejo was released.

She said the EFCC contacted Bodejo’s legal team on Thursday night and directed them to come to its Abuja office on Friday with court officials to secure his release.

However, she said the lawyers were later informed that bringing court officials was unnecessary because documents confirming the perfection of the bail conditions had already been submitted.

Hauwa said members of the family subsequently went to the EFCC headquarters, where they found that Bodejo had been brought out of custody.

She alleged that while the family was preparing to leave the premises, DSS operatives moved towards Bodejo and took him away in three vans.

“But to the shock of our belief, as we were leaving the EFCC premises, the officials of the DSS, whose presence we noticed around the EFCC’s gate, rushed towards my husband and suddenly whisked him away in the company of three vans,” she said.

The alleged rearrest has also raised fresh concerns about Bodejo’s health, according to his wife.

Hauwa claimed that his health had deteriorated during his detention and that his personal physician had repeatedly been prevented from seeing him.

She said Bodejo had spent nearly three months in detention and questioned the justification for keeping him in custody after the court had granted him bail and the conditions were reportedly perfected.

The DSS had not publicly explained the reason for taking Bodejo into custody again as of the time of the report.

Bodejo is facing a 12-count money laundering charge brought against him by the EFCC before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. He pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

The anti-graft agency accused him of receiving various cash payments, including $200,000, $100,000 and $980,000, from former Bauchi State Accountant-General Sa’idu Abubakar.

The EFCC alleged that the transactions contravened provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

On July 20, Justice Ekwo granted Bodejo bail in the sum of N2 billion, with one surety also required to provide a N2 billion bond.

The court stipulated that the surety must possess a three-year tax clearance certificate and own property in Abuja valued at N2 billion. Bodejo was also ordered to surrender his international passport and remain in Nigeria unless granted permission by the court to travel.

The court fixed October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for trial.

Bodejo has previously been detained by the DSS. In January 2024, the agency arrested him over the establishment of a vigilante group in Nasarawa State.

He was later released following a court order in December 2024, after the court ruled that his prolonged detention was unlawful.